In a high-tempo rugby encounter at the National Stadium in Tokyo, France secured a decisive 42-15 victory over Japan, marking their first leg of the inaugural Nations Championship.The Six Nations holders showcased attacking flair with six tries, led by hooker Maxime Lamothe's brace.

Fullback Matthieu Jalibert, lock Alexandre Roumat, scrumhalf Maxime Lucu, and flyhalf Romain Ntamack all contributed to the win, with Lucu converting all scores.

Japan, despite flashes of brilliance, struggled against France's relentless pressure, falling behind after a penalty from Takuro Matsunaga and a counterattack by Kippei Ishida.France capitalized on Japan's errors, including a sin bin infringement, to extend their lead.The Brave Blossoms briefly narrowed the gap before halftime but couldn't match France's momentum in the second half.With humid conditions affecting both teams, France's resilience shone through, securing a dominant performance against a resilient Japanese side.The result underscores France's strength in the new global tournament format, which will continue in November before a London finals weekend.